Julian de Guzman stands on the sidelines during his first game as Fury FC's interim head coach and general manager, a 3-0 loss against Orlando City B on Wednesday night in Orlando, Fla.
Mark Thor/Thunderclap PhotographyThunderClap Photography

Ottawa Fury FC finally got in some practice time with interim head coach Julian de Guzman and that had to be a good thing.

In a week when Fury FC replaced head coach Paul Dalglish on Monday, flew to Florida on Tuesday and lost 3-0 to Orlando City B on Wednesday, players needed to see how de Guzman wanted things done compared to the methods of the man he replaced.

The new coach held light training sessions with small groups of players Thursday and Friday at the University of South Florida’s St. Peterburg campus and will also put the team on the field for a light workout Saturday morning before facing the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a United Soccer League contest at night.

The match at 70-year-old Al Lang Stadium marks Game 2 of a whirlwind road trip that concludes next Wednesday in Cincinnati.

There may be plenty of reasonable excuses if the trip isn’t productive, but, just the same, with just 11 games to go in the regular season and Fury FC looking up at nine teams in the USL’s Eastern Conference, it needs some points. Getting them won’t be easy against fourth-place Tampa Bay (10-6-7) or seventh-place Cincinnati (8-8-7).

“It will be difficult and demanding,” de Guzman said. “The climate and quality Tampa Bay offers won’t make it easy for us, but we are well aware of that.

“We don’t doubt that the Rowdies have something important to prove to their home fans since they have been unstoppable at home. A goal for us will open up opportunities to get a good result.”

A goal was just what the Fury FC didn’t get in Orlando, despite outshooting their hosts 20-10. What they did get was their most lopsided defeat of the USL season, 3-0.

There was some good, starting with Ottawa’s highest pass-completion percentage of the season (82.1 per cent on 408 passes, while also firing 13 of 20 shots from inside the box and forcing Orlando keeper Earl Edwards Jr. to make eight saves.

Hard-luck Carl Haworth led Fury FC with five shots, three of them on target, while wearing the captain’s armband for the first time with Lance Rozeboom sidelined by injury.

Over its past five games, Fury FC has generated 82 shots, including 27 on goal, while scoring seven goals for an average of 1.4, slightly improvement than the season average of 1.29.

On the other side, the Rowdies had a five-game unbeaten stretch end with a 4-3 loss against Saint Louis FC, and they ranked second in the USL with 10 shutouts coming into this week’s play.

The Rowdies began the USL season with seven wins in the first 11 games (7-2-2), but then had an eight-game winless skid (0-4-4). Then came the five-game unbeaten streak.

Fury FC goalkeeper Callum Irving says every game from now until the end of the regular season “is a chance for us to prove ourselves and put points on the board. James Park/PostmediaJames Park /
Postmedia

“We see this game coming up as another opportunity to get three points,” Fury FC keeper Callum Irving said. “Every game from now until the end of the season is a chance for us to prove ourselves and put points on the board.

“We need to clean up our individual defensive mistakes and put away our chances. We’re working hard as a team and sticking together through these tough games, so I have faith we will come good on our hard work.”

Tight match expected

Notwithstanding the 2,390 kilometres between the two cities, there’s not much to choose between Fury FC and the Rowdies.

Including their previous history in the North American Soccer League, eight of 11 meetings have been decided by one goal or less.Overall since 2014, the Rowdies hold a 3-2 advantage in wins, with six games ending in ties.

“The game against Tampa is a very important game because it’s the next game,” Fury FC defender Andrae Campbell said. “And, with a good result against a good team like the Rowdies, it could be the beginning of a good run for us.

“So we have to remain positive and keep believing in ourselves and in the team and fight for this organization. In order to do that, we need to take our chances against Tampa and be more ruthless in front of the goal.”

The teams have met twice previously this season, with Tampa Bay winning 1-0 at home in April and the two tying 0-0 at TD Place in early May.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Market to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.